January 2021 e-ISSN: 1857-8187 p-ISSN: 1857-8179 Research Article History Halim Bey Jakova – Gostivari AN APOSTLE OF ALBANIANISM Keywords: Halim Bey Jakova, Albanian Uprising, First World War, Human Rights, 1878-1927 Great Powers. Bajram Salihi-Gjakova Principal of the School “Ali M Hasi”. Cernjan – Gjakova. Republic of Kosovo. Zeqirja Idrizi University of Tetova “Fadil Sulejmani”. Tetova. North Macedonia. Abstract The history of the Albanian people knows many personalities who have given their contribution for the people to enjoy freedom as a universal human right. However, within the history of each nation there are figures who, although not widely known, nevertheless, their contribution is extraordinary. Halim Bey Gostivari is one such figure whose contribution is the object of study of our paper. By providing detailed documents and information, we aim to shed light on such a personality, whose hard work and sacrifice has been an essential support in the context of the main developments in the history of the Albanian people. we hope that the paper will be an incentive for further studies in this field. Introduction Halim Jakova - Gostivar known as the apostle of Albanianism, was born in 1878 in the street of "Gostivarëve" (The Gostivars), in the "neighborhood of Mahmut Pasha", in Gjakova.9 He was the son of Yusuf and Minusha, who was the brother of Sadik of Gostivar. Halim spent his childhood in his hometown in Gjakova with his brother Sadik. Halimi completed his primary education in his hometown, while in 1905 he was a student at the American College "Robert College", in Istanbul, where he graduated in law. Halim bej Gostivari also kept the surnames "Jakova" and "Gjakova". In August of 1908, he supported Hasan bey Prishtina and the group that formed the club "Bashkimi" (Union), of the vilayet of Kosovo, based in Skopje, where his friends Hoxha Kadria, Bajram Curri, Bedri Pejani, Salih Gjuka, Nail Hyseni-Dana, Rrok Berisha, etc., joined. Initially he was a supporter of the Young Turks, as were his friends. Thus, in 1909, Halim Gostivari is evidenced united with the elite of Albanian patriots in Skopje. During this period he participated in the publication of the newspaper "Shkupi" in Skopje, which was led by Mr. Jashar Erëbara. Halim Gjakova supported other Kosovar patriots, participants in the great uprising of Kosovo in 1912. The newspaper "Shkupi", writing about this uprising, highlighted the line of commanders who took Skopje in August 1912: ‘Bajram Doklani was the first, Bajram Curri and 9 The name of the street came from the name of the birthplace of Halim Jakova-Gostivar's grandfather, Ibrahim, Jusuf's father who came to Gjakova from Gostivar – Polog Region, Jusufi left behind Halim and Sadik 'cit according to Hilë Lushaku, Halim Jakova-Gostivar (Architect Albanian) 1913-1922, Tirana, 2012, p.128. Page | 90 Anglisticum Journal (IJLLIS),Volume: 10 | Issue: 1| January 2021 e-ISSN: 1857-8187 p-ISSN: 1857-8179 Halim Gostivari with five thousand rifles… ”. Halim Gostivari, who in 1911 -12 was in administrative duties in the Albanian vilayets of Kosovo and Bitola.10At this point he was on the side of other Kosovar patriots, participants in the Great Kosovo Uprising of 1912; he was present even in the days following the Declaration of Independence in Vlora.11 Historical Context Halim Jakova – Gostivar was also on the ranks alongside the patriots of the Skopje club who were engaged in the war until the outbreak of armed uprisings. The preparation and the beginning of the uprising coincided with the campaign of the Parliamentary Elections, which the Young Turks temporarily declared, on January 15, 1912. The campaign continued until April, while in some of the Albanian territories it was postponed until May of the same year and there was an overly tense atmosphere. In the Sandzak of Prizren, the election campaign was tougher, the opposition representative Halim Gostivari lost by only one vote.12 For these elections a telegram was sent to the 39 leaders protesting that in Reka and in some villages with small numbers, double voters appear and that some muftis were forced to sign the ballots; Kajmekami has used threatening language in order to get voters to obey his wishes; he had sent Gendarmery officers and gendarmes at the villages who openly exerted pressure on the population.13 Whereas through the Turkish bands, the ruling party "Itihade ve Tereki" used unconstitutional and illegal means, nevertheless, the election was required to be repeated. Whereas the Italian Consul with a letter from Gjakova, on May 19, 1912, announces: that Malësia e Hasit and Fusha e Rekës have voted for Halim bej Gostivar (Albanian patriotic MP B.S). The government annulled the elections and as a result, the highlanders with Baba Bektashi of Has rose up, calling on the leaders of Gjakova to unite to protest against the election violations by the Government. Despite the Government's peace talks, on the evening of April 24, insurgents attacked the city and fought with troops for two days and two nights, showing extraordinary bravery. The fighting ended with the intervention of Riza Bey, who took assurance from the insurgents to stop for 10 days.14 After this period, many soldiers, drove them out of the trenches, hit the officers and took a lot of ammunition (22-23 loaded horses). Among Albanians there were 21 killed. With the eruption of the Movement in Peja, the troops were forced to go there. From all these efforts, from the second half of May, an assembly of national forces was convened in Junik, between Peja and Gjakova, and a program was set for the further activity of the Albanian Movement. The assembly of Junik, which lasted from 21 to 25 of May, was attended by about 250 most distinguished men from all Albanian areas. The leader of the Movement was Hoxha Salih Elbasani (Salih Hida Z.I.), with him, in the Steering Committee, were Halim bej 10 “Shkupi” – daily newspaper, Thursday, 30 August, 1912, n.33 11 Hilë Lushaku, cit. p. 30 12 Бoгумил Xрабак, Aрбанашки Устанци 1912, Bраыe, 1975, p.208 13 AIHT. Vj.12-17-1754, Supplement to the Monastery Report, May 1, 1912, No: 35; AIHT, MPJ and cults, Sofia, Fund 132, Political dossier No: 429, Secret report, 16/29 March 1912 14 Archive of Kosovo, Fund: Ministero degli Affari Esteri. See further (MDAE), Costa Regale, Report of the Italian Consul from Bari, 4 July 1912, sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome. Page | 91 Anglisticum Journal (IJLLIS),Volume: 10 | Issue: 1| January 2021 e-ISSN: 1857-8187 p-ISSN: 1857-8179 Gostivari, Jahja from Prizren, together with 5 others from Prizren.15 Under the headline“Të drejtat e Shqyptarëvet”("The Rights of Albanians"), the newspaper "Shkupi" wrote: "For the third time in Albania, guns and cannons are being fired and the blood of Albanians is being shed. What for? But what does this desolate nation of Albania beg that sheds its blood so painlessly? It does not beg, it wants nothing but its own rights. The Albanian begs to be alive, he wants to be alive and live as a person, as a nation, he wants his own language, which God has given him, he wants to have his own schools, he does not want to stay in the darkness of ignorance, he wants to keep his customs”.16 The same newspaper further continues: ..... also the newspaper “Përlindja e Shqipniës” (“The Birth of Albania”), dated October 8, 1913, praised Halim Gostivar among the central figures of the Albanian movement, and, among others, writes: "The leaders of the vilayet of Kosovo , led by Hasan Prishtina, Isa Boletini, Bajram Curi, Elez Isufi, Qazim Lika, Sadik Rama, Halim Gostivari and many others, took up arms for the unification of Albania ",17 thus writing about the Uprising of Kosovo, highlighted the line of commanders who took Skopje in August 1912: "Bajram Deklani was the first, Bajram Curri and Halim Gostivari with five thousand rifles ..."18 However, from May 1913, Halim bej Gostivari, will be charged with tasks of professional legal character for the preparation of normative acts for the Minister of Interior so Halim together with his brother, Sadik, in January 1914, were voluntarily placed under the command of The representatives of the "International Council of Control", who led the new Albanian state with the arrival of Prince Wied, here too Halim Gostivari engaged in security issues, serving with devotion, staying loyal to the Albanian cause. In the London Conference in 1913, more than half of the Albanian territories were donated to Greece and Serbia. Although Albania's independence was declared on November 28, half of the Albanian population remained under Slavic rule. But again the Albanians began to organize for a general uprising. At this time the main burden for organizing the uprising fell to Isa Boletin, Bajram Curit, Elez Isufi, Ramadan Zaskoci and others. Thus began the great uprising of 1913 in Dibra and Kosovo. However, the uprisings in Kosovo and other Albanian territories continued during 1914 and 1915. The Albanian people throughout this period was subjected to the violence of unbridled terror, which for three years organized three uprisings, which shows that they did not submit. Also, the liberation movement of Kosovo, in addition to the military wing, has had a political wing since the Albanian League of Prizren, which was also the soul of the movement. Thus the popular tribunes of the occupied Albanian part, Kosovo, were forced to continue the armed struggle for the liberation of the newly occupied lands. Therefore, in this situation, it was deemed necessary to form a political body to lead and direct this war.